April Was Totally Useless

Can I get an Amen to that post title? I did NOT get the house dusted. There is dog hair covering my floor. The kitchen floor is spotted with who-knows-what and the bathroom mirrors...well, that must be toothpaste. Useless, except for stitching! Woo...just check out this ORT jar:

Stuffed, I tell you! I'm gonna have to start packing these threads down. April was a great stitching month, all-in-all. I'm really enjoying this design. Have you guessed what it is yet?

This is Sisters & Best Friends' Fruit Salad Sampler "Pear."

I know Erin was the first to guess it correctly! I will have to send her a little treat for being so clever.

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We want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your April 29th TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Saturday Fun & Games

Dash and I should have stayed home yesterday and "got stuff done" instead of spending the day playing. The lawn needs mowing, carpet vacuumed, bed linens washed and the dust must be appalling but I'm too scared to look. The next two weekends are going to be crazy busy so we really should have done our chores but a little sweetie named Kelsey has leukemia and we wanted to help her family.

Our day started early with a quick bite to eat before riding to Yale, Oklahoma to buy our entry into the Poker run. We chatted with other bikers and met up with our friend Brian before we were off to Cushing, OK to draw our first card. I only then remembered to take some photos...

Our bike in front, Brian's behind.

I drew a 6 of Clubs.

Wasn't it gorgeous? You can just get a glimpse of Brian in our side mirror, behind us. We don't know the people in front of us, just other riders on the run.

The above photo was taken right after the Stone Wolf Casino stop. We were making good time so we went into the casino for a cold beer. Dash handed me $20 to play slots while he and Brian chatted. I cashed out at $56 so I was tickled.

Lots of riders. I heard there were 133.

I had a really good chance before I drew that dratted Heart! Oh well, this was a "for a good cause" event so even if I had won something I would have donated it to the family. The fun was in the ride and the fellowship. And that yummy brisket sandwich we were given for lunch!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Let's Play Frisbee!

Miss Molly has been on a diet/exercise program. Being stuck inside all winter because of nasty weather and two clueless owners refilling a dog dish whenever it was empty...little miss Molly was becoming a bit of a sausage dog! When her collar got tight, I started measuring out her kibble and reducing the amount. Now that the weather is (mostly) cooperating we have been going out several times a day to play fetch. Molly loves to fetch! She will play until she is exhausted but I try to limit our time to a heavy, happy pant. She will dash back to the house if I ask if she wants to go get a drink. Once inside she will collapse in a blissful heap on the cool floor, or if it was particularly hot, in front of the fan. Five seconds after cooling off, she is pestering me to go out again.

A quick video so you can see how slim she is getting. Her muscles are hard as rocks. Apologies, it's hard to throw a Frisbee and hold the phone at the same time...and it was windy so the video is noisy and the floppy, rubber disk we play with is hard to aim when it's windy! And neveryoumind my accent.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Another Totally Useless Post

This mystery project is making my ORT jar fill up with some of the prettiest colors! And no one has even come close to figuring it out! Here is an updated photo for your guessing pleasure:

Tomorrow is our 2nd New Moon in March. Do you have your ORT jar shined up for a Totally Useless Stitch A Long photo?

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We want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your March 30th TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Little Black Cat

I'm finally getting around to posting a snappy of my finish. It's been done, we have just been crazy busy. It's also been a horribly sad time for us. Dash's oldest brother passed away and we've been out of town last week with family. Between planning home stuff and work stuff in order to to be away, I found comfort in stitching...a few stolen moments.

Design ~ Sneak Peek "Halloween"
Designer ~ The Trilogy
Fabric ~ 28 count Lugana, tea-stained
Fiber ~ DMC

Molly was boarded at the vet's office where she got giant frozen beef bones to pass the time. She came home "blowing coat" (seasonal shedding) and there are drifts of hair piled in every corner. Surely, it MUST be spring, right? 

A funny to amuse you...the receptionist at the vet's left a message today asking me to confirm Molly's boarding appointment this week. I returned the call saying that appointment was LAST week. Okay...so I get the feeling when I showed up with Molly last week, they had no idea why I was there, but happily took her in anyway. Have I mentioned how awesome our vet is?

I've now begun another project. The colors are scrumptious. Here's what I've got so far. The title? The Designer? I'm keeping it a secret from you. You will have to guess!

I'm a shameless tease.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Totally Useless Birthday Post

So sorry for the late ORT report...my computer would not cooperate with me yesterday and I ran out of good humor to deal with it! The ORTs in my jar are piling up. You can see the big load of black threads from my Trilogy Sneak Peek and for those of you that guessed I was stitching the cat? You know me so well ~ lol!

Today is my birthday as you can see by my post title. I've had a great time even if it is snowing/sleeting/freezing rain on my special day. 

Yesterday, Dash took me to the jewelry store because I told him I'd like more earring post wires. He had gotten me the Pandora posts (they are wires but the site calls them posts) last year and I've had loads of fun finding pretty charms to hang on them. The ones I already had have the London Underground logo on them in the picture. The new ones are at the bottom with some silver plated ladybugs. Pretty cute, aren't they? 

I've included a couple of the charms I have for examples. The posts are inexpensive and the charms are really, really inexpensive. Most of the charms I find at craft stores for next to nothing ~ since they are so cheap, I bet I have 50 pairs! I love them.

Since we were at the jewelry store I HAD to check out the Pandora charms too. I bought the little scissors one in the middle. My bracelet is filling up! 

While we were shopping, I told told Dash I loved the comedy/tragedy charm and if he wanted to get me a present to get that one next.

When we got home, I got out my bracelet to add my new charm and take a photo of it for you. Dash asked if I was going to take a photo and when I told him I was he handed me a little box and said I'd better have my birthday present early then.

I opened the box to find the comedy/tragedy charm and burst into tears!

Dash said the saleslady "looked" at him when I told him which charm I wanted next. Because she had helped him buy it a few days ago. Awwwww! I think I blubbered for at least an hour after unwrapping my gift.

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We want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your March 1st TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Sneak Peek

I've been working on a new project! It is a cutie...but I only have the border finished so this is a fairly boring snap to show you:

This is The Trilogy's Sneak Peek "Halloween" with the border modified to make just one of the scenes. You can see the entire project on this page, about half way down. Any guesses which block I'm going to stitch?

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Lead Foot or stuff you really wanted to know about me:

90% of the time I am driving I will have the cruise control on. This is because I have a lead foot and if I'm not very careful I will find myself speeding. 

I discovered this problem as the cheerful holder of a learner's permit at 16. I remember driving on the highway with my father (a completely unflappable man) who peered at my speedometer and said mildly,"Going a hair fast there, Sharon." 

The speed limit was 55 MPH. I was going like 90.

You'd think someone with no sense of how fast she is traveling in a car would have a file full of speeding tickets, right? Nope, not a single one! I've only ever been pulled over once, and that WAS for speeding but the officer just gave me a warning.

I'm careful. I know my flaws.

However, I DID get a ticket the time I hit a boat. With my car. At a stop light.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Totally Useless January

Woot! We are already on our second New Moon of 2014! How is your ORT collecting going? My ORTs are adding up. I decided not to dump my little jar into my big jar each month but see how much I can stuff into it for the whole year. I hope it starts overflowing!

I have a nice rainbow of colors from the pumpkins and the 4th of July projects. Shown here with a mini-stitch à la Blackbird Designs. This is just a tiny portion of one of their bigger designs. I'm going to make a needle minder with it.

February's TUSAL
I've had many emails and comments asking why I'm skipping February this year. I'm not. We post on the NEW MOON, following the LUNAR CYCLE. I am not the one choosing when the moon goes dark, people ~ LOL! Alas, I am not that powerful.

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We want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your January 30th TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Just a reminder...please WAIT to post the links to your ORT reports until I have made my post. Don't post the link on the last post I've made or on another TUSAL post or it can't be added for the giveaway! Sometimes I will not get to the computer until late in the day (I work full time) and lots of you are hours & hours ahead of my time zone! Give me time to get it posted!

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

That's A Wrap!

Finally! This one took long enough. Admittedly, I dawdled. I blame the holidays. Work. Nice weather. Bad weather. Home. Boredom. Too much excitement. Laziness. 

Actually...I have no excuse. I just felt like dawdling.

But, it's done:

Design ~ Secret Pumpkin Patch
Designer ~ The Trilogy
Fabric ~ 28 count tea-dyed Lugana
Fiber ~ DMC

When I finally finished that one I pulled out a UFO from last summer and went back to work on it. This one was fun but I had trouble with the white. I used 712 in the hat...it was fine, banded with red it showed up great but when I started the sparkles they blended in with the fabric! Whoops! So I frogged the bit of fireworks I had done and went with bright-white B5200. This still needs buttons added. It comes with a teeny Liberty Bell charm but I think I will use some star-shaped buttons instead.

Design ~ 4th of July
Designer ~ Lizzie*Kate
Fabric ~ 28 count tea-dyed Lugana
Fiber ~ DMC

Both of these are destined to become holiday decorations, either pillows or ornaments. What am I'm starting next? Perhaps a Blackbird Designs pinpillow. I have it kitted up but I feel like dawdling. *sigh*

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Naked Bananas or stuff you really wanted to know about me:

I have a "thing" about banana peels. Yes, banana peels. 

They creep me out.

I'm not talking about peels in the trash or prank-left-on-the-floor-to-slip-on peels but touching the peel while I'm eating a banana. Peel it down a few inches and munch away? Not me. 

I. Can. Not. 

I have to peel the entire banana, being careful not to touch the inside, set the edible part down on a napkin, toss the peel, wash my hands, then I can eat the banana. I eat only naked bananas.

I am unaware of when this phobia started but since it doesn't really affect any part of my life (except needing a sink when I eat long yellow fruit) it's just become one of those things I find rather funny about myself.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Totally Useless New Year

Well...not really! But it is our first Totally Useless Stitch A Long of 2014. How awesome the New Moon  falls on the first day of the year!

Welcome! Welcome 2014 and a new year of stitchy fun! Have you signed up for 2014 yet?  See the link at the end of this post if you want to join in the fun.

My ORTs are mostly browns, oranges and greens since I'm still plugging away on Trilogy's Secret Pumpkin Patch. Yes, still...that's four months now, folks.

I cannot decide if I want to dump my ORTs each month or stuff the jar and see how much I can accumulate during the year. I have been dumping each month into my ginormous ORT jar for a couple of years and one year I tried to save each month in a separate jar with intentions to label each jar with the month's name. Which is a really cool idea but the months don't line up with the freakin' lunar cycle at all...hence our 2 gatherings in January & March while completely skipping February this year.

We want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your January 1st TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox